Court summons ex-IGP over Karkare book

SM Mushrif, former inspector general of police, has been summoned by the Bombay High Court to explain the contents of his controversial book ‘Who killed Karkare?’, which alleges a conspiracy by Hindu extremists along with Indian intelligence agencies to kill the Anti-Terrorism Squad chief, Hemant Karkare.

SM Mushrif, former inspector general of police, has been summoned by the Bombay High Court to explain the contents of his controversial book ‘Who killed Karkare?’, which alleges a conspiracy by Hindu extremists along with Indian intelligence agencies to kill the Anti-Terrorism Squad chief, Hemant Karkare.

A division bench of justice BH Marlapalle and justice RY Ganoo has directed Mushrif to be present in court on December 1. “If a government officer makes a statement, not just publicly, but also in print, then it needs to be probed,” Marlapalle remarked.

The court remarked that had the government found the contents of the book frivolous, it would have banned the book.

“You haven’t done it. Maybe you don’t have the courage. Have you filed an FIR against him (Mushrif),” Marlapalle said. The court suggested that if they felt the contents of the book were wrong then they would take action against Mushrif. “However, if there is prima facie material then it needs to be investigated.”

Public prosecutor Pandurang Pol submitted an affidavit filed by police commissioner Sanjeev Dayal, which categorically stated that they had not found the involvement of any Hindu organisation, including Abhinav Bharat, in Karkare’s death.

“During investigations, the investigating officer did not come across any evidence suggesting that Karkare’s death was caused by any other persons apart from the two named in the charge sheet (Mohammad Ajmal Amir Kasab and Abu Ismail),” the affidavit stated.

Even the special court, which tried Kasab, has not found any involvement of either the Abhinav Bharat or any other Hindu organisation, while framing charges, the affidavit adds.

After going through the affidavit, Justice Marlapalle remarked, “We are not saying that Karkare was killed by someone else. But it needs to be probed whether anyone from Indian soil was involved. After all, he (Mushrif) was part of your force.”

Two petitions — one by former Bihar MLA Radhakant Yadav and another by Jyoti Bedekar — have been filed alleging that Karkare’s death was orchestrated by Intelligence Bureau personnel and members of ‘right wing terrorist outfit’ Abhinav Bharat.